Mumzillas wanted as RTE plans the mother of all wedding shows

THE hunt is on for Ireland's most demanding 'Mumzillas'.

Animo productions have put out the final call for contestants for the upcoming new series, The Mother Of All Weddings.

While it might give some couples nightmares, participants in the new RTE2 show will willingly hand the reins over to their mums to plan the big day.

The show will see the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom play a central role as the wedding planners.

And once all of the decisions have been made, the couple and their mothers will get to share their wedding on national TV.

Clearly, RTE 2's commissioning editor Eddie Doyle can't get enough of bridal gowns and confetti. Don't Tell The Bride is one of RTE's most successful TV shows and RTE 2 seems eager to replicate some of its success.

However, The Mother Of All Weddings producers Adrian Lynch and Darren Smith insist their pilot is more light-hearted and fun than Don't Tell The Bride.

"It's a bit like Don't Tell The Bride but less schmaltzy," Adrian said. "Don't Tell The Bride can be a little Heartbreak Hotel and this show will be lighter."

drama

The pilot is being produced by Animo TV and Kite Entertainment, the makers of Anonymous, Celebrity Bainisteoir, and Secret Millionaire.

"We're in the final run of casting at the moment," Adrian said. "We're looking for Mumzillas, absolutely.

"But we need couples who are eager to get married and comfortable on camera. And who have strong-willed, wedding orientated mothers; women who like to speak their mind."

Animo will be contributing €10,000 to the final wedding budget. "The mums will be given €10,000 towards the budget of their wedding which is a nice incentive," Adrian said.

Adrian thinks that the show will be full of drama as "every mum likes to stick her oar in."

In Ireland, 25,000 people get married every year.

"It's big business," Adrian says. "It's a life stage that everyone is involved in, whether they, or a member of their family gets married, or they are invited to one. There is no other wedding show that exists where the couple hands over the reins to their mothers."

The show will air next autumn and the closing date for applications is on Friday. Apply to weddings@animo.ie